BJP to seek special status for Goa

Panaji, Aug 9: The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will seek special status for Goa on the lines of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where certain restrictions are imposed on purchase of land by people from outside the State.

The BJP will move a resolution in this regard in the ensuing session of the Goa Assembly, which begins from August 18. There is large-scale migration into the state because of which the infrastructure has collapsed. We have limited resources within which we have to manage," Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar told reporters here today at the BJP headquarters. Parrikar further said that the special status should be on par with Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand wherein we can control the financial and land dealings while stopping the demographic changes happening in the state."

"Goa needs to be allotted special status to restrain people from buying land here. The land dealings should be controlled or else we will not leave any land for our posterity," the former Chief Minister added.

The party clarified that the special status would be sought under Article 371 of the Constitution and not under Article 370 like Jammu and Kashmir.

The BJP has been strongly objecting to both mega housing projects and slums, mushrooming across Goa due to increased migration into the coastal state, having a population of 14 lakhs.